I know it is early and definately not a seasonal topic but I am looking to replace my standard tyres with 4 season ones when they wear out and I was wondering if there were any Yeti suitable ones that could be recommended. I don't want to pay a fortune for them I just want a good all round tyre that can handle any snow we get, as my vehicle is 2 wheel drive I just want something to get me home from work and up my hill in an inch or so of the white stuff.

By the way if these people are right and they have been so far we may need good tyres again this year.

http://www.positiveweathersolutions.co.uk/UK-Long-Range.php

Mark

Hi,

there are few options in the required size; Goodyear 4Season are probably the best bet although not particularly cheap.

Regards,

TP

I believe the generally accepted opinion is that 4 season tyres are not really that good for either summer or for winter driving. The main reason is not so much the thread pattern, but the rubber compound, which needs to be relatively hard for summer and soft with a lot of sipes for winter.

Even though you cite cost as a concern, I would recopmmend that you consider a set of winter wheels and tyres. If you plan to keep the car for a reasonable period of time, the tyre wear will be evened out on the two sets, and in the long run your only additional investment is the extra set of wheels.

I was very happy with the performance of the winter tyres last year - and now have the original Conti summer rubber on the car. They are also quite good in both dry and wet conditions, but the compound and thread pattern is definitely not ideal for winter use.

The original tyres should last between 20 and 30,000 miles, so unless you drive a lot, they will not be due for replacement this winter.

Edited 24 May, 201016 yr by Agerbundsen

Would be interesting to see whether (excuse pun) that website was predicting the coldest winter for 30 years this time last year !

I've seen some cobblers in my time, but that it right up there !

Dunno about you lot but I'm going for the 4x4 yeti and a set of quality snow chains as back-up.

I got a set 4 months ago that I bought for the next bout of frosty weather but never used them, so will exchange them for a pair for the Yeti.

Thanks for the replies, I was looking at the Goodyears and also Nankang seemed to get a reasonable write up for their 4 season tyres. I know that they are a compromise as to handling etc.

Agerbundsen, I have considered winter tyres but I haven't really got anywhere to store them and we don't seem to get that much snow just the occasional heavy fall that brings the place to a standstill. I do about 24000 miles a year so my tyres may well need replacing by the winter if only due to the tread depth being marginal.

Giles, the weather forecasters you are questioning did predict the bad winter last year, also the grotty summer, they seemed to get the autumn right too. So far they haven't done too badly with this spring, check out the forecast for next week and give it a try.

Macdemon S*** C***** are a big no- no here, read back over the past posts, also as I have 17" wheels I cannot fit them apparently.

Mark

Thanks for the replies, I was looking at the Goodyears and also Nankang seemed to get a reasonable write up for their 4 season tyres. I know that they are a compromise as to handling etc.

Agerbundsen, I have considered winter tyres but I haven't really got anywhere to store them and we don't seem to get that much snow just the occasional heavy fall that brings the place to a standstill. I do about 24000 miles a year so my tyres may well need replacing by the winter if only due to the tread depth being marginal.

Giles, the weather forecasters you are questioning did predict the bad winter last year, also the grotty summer, they seemed to get the autumn right too. So far they haven't done too badly with this spring, check out the forecast for next week and give it a try.

Macdemon S*** C***** are a big no- no here, read back over the past posts, also as I have 17" wheels I cannot fit them apparently.

Mark

Why are snow chains a BIG no no??? :'(

I have sources some that don't come into contact with the rims and all parts that MAY do are made of nylon to avoid scratches.

Why are snow chains a BIG no no??? :'(

I have sources some that don't come into contact with the rims and all parts that MAY do are made of nylon to avoid scratches.

over the winter there was a long running saga over the fact that you couldn't fit snow chains to uk yetis with 17" wheels,have a look

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/151680-snow-chains/page__hl__snow%20chains%20on%20yeti

the other thing is the snow is patchy on my run into work so I would be stopping and starting to fit them and take them off again so I was looking at the tyre option first.

Mark

Thanks mhjonesuk, that has answered my question

Mark,,

Snow chains are not for the patchy snow on normal roads in winter. They are only needed if you have deep snow and mountains, where yu absolutely could not drive without them. Even in the Alps, they are rerely used, except maybe in some passes, that really should have been closed. The intention is that one does not want cars stuck up there that need rescue.

It may be different in the UK, but it is common here for >50% of cars to use winter tyres. We do not as a rule get any more snow that you do in the UK south of Hadrian's wall. It is also common that the shop that changes the winter wheels for you store the unused set for the season, so yo don't have to. Typically charges are like £50 per season or so. I happen to have plenty of room for storage, so take them home.

Winter tyres do give you a very secure feeling - you can get through everything but a major dump of the white stuff, so no need to worry too much. The real benefit is in cold and wet conditions, where they do much better than the summer variety - and let's face it, that is a much more common situation than snow. Of course, the 4WD and Haldex just make things so much better. Even with FWD and good rubber, you should be able top handle most stuff.

Edited 25 May, 201016 yr by Agerbundsen

Amazing how snow chains keep coming up, even when the temperature is approaching 30 degrees.

I still maintain that some snow chains will fit...I have Weissenfels Quattro Klack and Go.

Winter tyres are the thing to have though.

The following link should take you to a video on Autocar's website where they make a comparsion (a bit contrived but it makes the point) of summer and winter tyres.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=246494&CT=V

John

Amazing how snow chains keep coming up, even when the temperature is approaching 30 degrees.

I still maintain that some snow chains will fit...I have Weissenfels Quattro Klack and Go.

Winter tyres are the thing to have though.

The following link should take you to a video on Autocar's website where they make a comparsion (a bit contrived but it makes the point) of summer and winter tyres.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=246494&CT=V

John

Point well made, but.....but....but....

The Yeti with just FWD would do much better with both winter and summer wheels.

The real situation in a VERY large proportion of driving time in winter is not snow, but COLD and WET conditions, where a winter tyre equipped FWD Yeti will do remarkably well with WINTER tyres. Now add the 4WD and Haldex.........

It was really fun to blast around last winter ..... se specs below.

Point well made, but.....but....but....

The Yeti with just FWD would do much better with both winter and summer wheels.

The real situation in a VERY large proportion of driving time in winter is not snow, but COLD and WET conditions, where a winter tyre equipped FWD Yeti will do remarkably well with WINTER tyres. Now add the 4WD and Haldex.........

It was really fun to blast around last winter ..... se specs below.

I fully agree. A set of winter tyres is the best option, even in the UK. Not sure how much storage space mhjonesuk has but I have this arrangement in a corner of my garage:

You can get a similar stand off ebay, I bought one for my son recently for £12. He will be having winter tyres this year, for the following reason. This was a harsh lesson for a 21 year old to learn. Fortunately he only suffered slight cuts but was bruised and very, very shocked. This was an untreated road in a car that had good quality summer tyres with plenty of tread. Speed was not an issue and no other car was involved in his accident although two other cars went off the road at the same point..

And finally, for use in the UK if snow chains don't seem to be an option, autosocks are a very good compromise for most of the time in the UK.

Again, there are snow chains that will fit cars to which the manufacturer has advised against their fitment.

While I don't consider myself an expert in these matters, I've been driving out to and in the Alps in winter for the last 30 years and was first sold on winter tyres when I bought a set for a Volvo 340 in about 1986.

John

Skoda amended their snow chain advice in the 11/09 owners handbook; you can fit chains to the standard fit tyre sizes but only on the rear axial. Not much help if you have a 2wd version.

16" winter tyres are defiantly the best option if you have the space to store them.

Regards,

TP

Just come across a new all season tyre by Nokian, supposed to be for the northern American market but I've noticed there currently available on mytyres

My link

If my Nokian WR G2 winters are anything to go by then they should be a good tyre choice.

TP

It will be interesting to how they score if the various testing agencies get their hands on a set.

ernieb

The Plumber, thanks for that information, they look just the job, heard a lot about Nokian tyres all good

Mark

And seeing that this is midsummer day and from now on the days will be getting shorter as we approach winter, we'll be able to return to that other favourite Yeti topic - how to deal with snow!

John

John - sad but true

ernieb

And seeing that this is midsummer day and from now on the days will be getting shorter as we approach winter, we'll be able to return to that other favourite Yeti topic - how to deal with snow!

John

With the SM and the right tyres - easy mate - no problem.

And you don't need chains either.

With the SM and the right tyres - easy mate - no problem.

And you don't need chains either.

From what I've read on here before a 1,0 litre Fiat Panda 2x4 with winter tyres can go anywhere on snow. So a 2x4 Yeti and definitely a 4x4 Yeti will have no problems.